Reinventing Comics

[how Imagination and Technology Are Revolutionizing An Art Form]

Baker & TaylorExplains how digital revolutions are affecting the comic strip business, from the artist's creation of the comic strips to the distribution of the finished product to the consumers.

Blackwell North Amer

The new century manifesto on the many futures of comics art

In 1993, Scott McCloud tore down the wall between high and low culture with the acclaimed international hit Understanding Comics, a massive comic book that explored the inner workings of the worlds most misunderstood art form. Now, McCloud takes comics to the next level, charting twelve different revolutions in how comics are created, read, and perceived today.

Part One of this fascinating and in-depth book includes:

The life of comics as an art form and as literature

The battle for creators' rights

Reinventing the business of comics

The volatile and shifting public perceptions of comics

Sexual and ethnic representation on comics

Then in Part Two, McCloud paints a breathtaking picture of comics' digital revolutions, including:

Opinion

From the critics

Community Activity

Comment

Comic insider guru Scott McCloud is bang on on the big leagues with Disney merging with 21st century Fox.
Superhero movies are profitable ,but empty calories. They were snubbed by Oscars (example Batman Begins) except maybe technical awards.
On one hand, it slowly freed itself from Dark ages Comic codes era with more diversity on gender & race. On other hand, it starting to recycle itself & still perceived as old boys club & only for kids by serious reporters. Readership declined. More Direct sales comic stores shuttered by lowers sales to politically correct parental groups aided by justice system. Profitable independents still few & far between.
Digital comics finally sold online by Big two. However, net neutrality overturned by Trump's FCC make things way worse for David vs Goliath. Expensive to get into digital comics with hardware, software & technical manuals, but so was the analog version.
Recommended for all ages with its sly humor & clear presentation.

Scott McCloud tried to predict how comics might be affected by the advent of widespread internet use. He is surprisingly accurate in his predictions. I love the the way Scott turns the comic into an educational tool.